How to apply for an Australian ETA

If you are looking at visiting Australia, it is best to check what visa requirements you might need before you make your travel plans. The type of passport you hold will determine what visa requirements you’ll need.

If you are a Canadian passport holder and want to travel to Australia (tourism/business purposes) for a short period of time, you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).

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What is an Australian ETA?

Based on the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection website, “an ETA is an electronically stored authority equivalent to a visa.” It is valid for a year and allows an ETA holder to visit Australia as many times as he/she wants in a period of one year with a maximum stay of three months each visit.

Who can apply for an Australian ETA?

Passport holders of over 30 countries including Austria, Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, and United States of America are eligible to apply. For a complete list of countries, click here.

When should you apply for an Australian ETA?

Australian Government advised to apply for an Australian ETA at least two weeks before your desire to travel to Australia. You should also be outside of Australia when submitting an application.

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What can you do in Australia when you have an Australian ETA?

Tourist visitors can visit family and friends or engage in tourism activities. Business visitors may make general business or employment inquiries, investigate/negotiate/sign/review a business contract, participate in conferences, trade fairs, or seminars. In addition, Australian ETA holders may also study in Australia for up to three months.

You will need an eligible passport (it should be the same passport you will be using to travel to Australia as your ETA will be linked to that passport), an e-mail address, and a valid credit card.

How much does it cost?

There is a service fee of Australian $20 for each application.

How long does it take to apply online?

It took me about 10-15 minutes to complete my application and the result of my ETA was available immediately after my credit card payment went through. However, some applications may need extra processing, according to the Australian Government website.

Now that it has been taken care of, I can finally start planning my trip to Australia! I will be visiting family and friends in Melbourne and Sydney! I heard Melbourne is a foodie city so I am super excited! I am looking for suggestions on things to do in Melbourne and Sydney and if you have any ideas for me, feel free to comment it below!

I always forget how hard it is to get a visa for my country, and how much other people want to come here! I guess to me, it’s just home, and I forget that it’s such a destination for working holidays and adventure travel.Kate recently posted…5 misconceptions about travel in South America

Good to know that you guys only need an ETA for Australia.
I hold an Indian passport and I need to apply for a visa prior to my travel.
Yet to get to Australia. Hope to visit soon.My Travelogue by Bhushavali recently posted…Leaning Tower of Pisa (Florence (Firenze) – Italy)

Veronica

July 4, 2017

I was also doing a research on applying for ETA, but apparently, as a Ukrainian passport holder, I don’t qualify. I still need to send my documents to the embassy.

This is really a good post with answers to many ques on ETA. Unfortunately I couldn’t find India in this list. And will have to undergo the line of processes for filling visa and visiting Australia. Hope to visit Australia some day.